Page 20 of Witch's Dawn
The corners of my vision darkened like looking through a tunnel, then went back to normal again. But I felt a familiar thick, heavy presence in the air that stood my smallest hairs on end and a dull throb between mylegs.
My breath stopped in my chest and Iknew. I could feel themnearby.
Looking around the bar, no one else seemed to feel what I did. The bartender had gone off to chat with someone else and all other customers continued talking and drinking like normal. But for some reason, my breath felt stolen from my lungs and my heart crashed against my ribs. If I hadn't been sitting in a barstool, I was certain my knees would buckle like a babydeer.
The front door pushed open and three sinfully hot men walked in, swaggering like a biker gang that laughed and shot back whiskey as they rode throughHell.
Ash and Sal swept their gazes across the room but Raum looked directly at me and winked. His raven tattoo flexed under the corded muscles of hisforearm.
You still have no idea what youare.
I took a deep breath and downed more of mydrink.
The dreams, the response of my body and the overwhelming presence of them. All of it was too much to becoincidental.
Somehow I knew these guys were connected to me. They had answers. And I was about to find out what theyknew.
12
SALMAC
She looked justas ravishing as the first time I sawher.
Not under the goat head at that party but the very first time, however many millennia ago that was. She'd been naked and seductive at Ash's side, with his serpent draped around hershoulders.
Now in the witch's bar, she looked different but so much the same. The same amber eyes, the same wicked, beautiful mouth. My black heart ached for her touch. My fingers itched to spear through her hair as I caught those seductive lips in akiss.
But I had to wait. I had to do this right or we could lose herforever.
I hated waiting more than anything. And as a demon thousands of years old, it never goteasier.
"So you've finally found the place," Raum observed as he slid into the barstool next to Deja, smiling that pretty boy grin as he always did. "I take it you've learned somethings."
"I only found out last night," Deja admitted, her eyes flickering nervously at his close proximity. My throat tightened. I had to remember we were essentially strangers toher.
"So I take this to mean you three are witches, too?" she asked, swiveling around in her seat to look at all of us. "Or warlocks or wizards? Whatever the male titlesare."
Ash cast a silent glance between Raum and I. We both gave subtle nods in understanding, although my fist clenched at my side in frustration. She was here, wasn't she? She knew and acknowledged this world of magic existed. We didn't have to treat her like a delicate Christian flower. Why did we have to keep this going at a snail'space?
"Not exactly," I said, leaning against the bar on the other side of her. "But our abilities aresimilar."
I began to draw her sigil in midair, knowing she likely wouldn't recognize it. Like a bright red pen, my finger left streaks of sparkling red light floating in the air in front of her. She blinked at the symbol, my magic casting a red glow on her face before it gently faded intonothing.
"What did that symbol mean?" sheasked.
Ash's aura sparked and crackled around me inwarning.
"Nothing," I answered and abruptly tore my gaze away from her. "Hey, who do we have to fuck up the ass to get a drink around here?" Iyelled.
Deja giggled while my two brothers let out a mutual, disapproving groan. They acted like they hated my loud, boisterous antics but if it weren't for me, their immortal lives would be an eternity ofboredom.
The bartender, who'd been purposely avoiding us, didn't bother hiding his scowl as he reluctantly cameover.
"Aw, don't look so happy to see us, Micah," Raumchided.
"What do the three of you want with her?" Micah snarled, jerking his head towardDeja.
"None of your fucking business," I hissed, the rage already boiling within me. "We're here for drinks and conversation. One of those is already covered. So why don't you do your job and make those drinks happen, witch-boy?"
